Go

GO

God's primary command to the church was to“Go.”When meditating on Jesus' command to“Go," it can be helpful to remember all the times Jesus “crossed over” when ministering. Jesus not only traveled to different places, but also went beyond day-to-day life in sharing eternal matters contained in the Word of God. In like manner, believers are to be doing the same as they go along life's journey. In various activities and pursuits (e.g., hanging out with friends and neighbors, taking a business trip, sitting on a bus, standing in line at the grocery store, completing an errand, etc.), believers are to be stepping out of the ordinary and sharing the extraordinary – Jesus Christ! (Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. NKJV; Mark 16:15-18 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." NKJV)

SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD God has called all believers into His army to fight to win the world to Jesus Christ. As such, believers need to be ever-ready to share the gospel. In essence, sharing the gospel is a work of sharing the love of God enthusiastically and faithfully. A simple fact about witnessing is that if believers keep the love of God to themselves (i.e., they choose not to share the gospel), people will not hear the truth and will be lost eternally. Therefore the church as a whole needs to be aflame with the love of God, and to steadfastly and compassionately spread the gospel to as many people as possible. (2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. NKJV; Jude 22-23 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. NKJV)

SPREADING THE GOOD SEED Christians must be about telling people the Word of God. If people receive Jesus into their heart, this is a great win for the Kingdom of God. If people do not receive Jesus after hearing the Word, believers at least had a chance to plant the good seed of God's Word. If people reject Jesus totally or criticize a believer for sharing the gospel, God's Word says that the spirit of glory and of God will rest upon witnesses and that they would be“rewarded”in heaven. God also makes it clear that those who leave the things of this world to do the work of God will be provided for in this life and the next. As such, spreading the gospel holds great blessings for those who receive the Word of God along with those who dutifully share the message of God's forgiveness and love. (Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. NKJV; 1 Peter 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. NKJV; Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. NKJV; Matthew 19:29-30 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. NKJV)